Early on, Gloria’s family instilled in her the drive to put people first, no matter the cost. Growing up in the Deep South, Gloria remembers sleeping in the hallway instead of her bedroom to avoid gunshots from the KKK. Her father, an FBI Special Agent, bravely investigated and brought members of the Klan to justice, making her family a target. That experience shaped Gloria’s lifelong commitment to standing up to injustice–no matter the risk.

A special education teacher of 27 years, Gloria was fed up with politicians in Nashville attacking public schools and silencing educators. After the legislature took away a teacher’s seat at the table, she decided to run for the Tennessee House in 2012 — she won. Ever since, Gloria has been a bold voice for working families, students, and teachers in the state Capitol.

When a tragic school shooting in Nashville took the lives of three children and three adults, Gloria stood up at part of the “Tennessee Three” to demand action on gun safety.She faced political retaliation, but she didn’t back down because Tennessee families deserve leaders who will fight for their safety, not play partisan games.

Gloria has also shared the trauma her own students endured during a school shooting years ago, calling on her colleagues to protect children, not guns. Instead, Republican leaders passed laws that silence grieving families and censor lawmakers. Gloria stood firm, continuing to push for common-sense solutions and real change.

Now, Gloria is running for re-election to the Tennessee State House because she knows the real work happens close to home. She’s fighting to make sure every Tennessean–no matter their zip code–has a voice in Nashville.

As your State Representative, Gloria is fighting to:

• Restore reproductive freedom and protect access to birth control and IVF
• Pass common-sense gun safety laws to keep communities safe
• Invest in public education and give teachers the respect and resources they deserve
• Lower the cost of health care and expand rural access
• Stand up to corruption and special interests that put profits ahead of people

Gloria Johnson has never backed down from a fight, and she never will! She’s standing tall for Tennessee.